ZIP ON hi-tech coaches

ZIP ON hi-tech coaches
Metro Rail Corporation Finalizes Structure and Design
S Kushala | TNN

Bangalore: Three-car trainsets with a capacity to ferry 1,000 passengers, stainless steel car body, micro-processor control, wide gangway between coaches to allow free movement of passengers, smooth finish interior panels, non-slip and non-skid floor structure — that’s how Namma Metro will be.
After toying with a number of designs of international standards, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRC) recently finalized the basic structure of the coaches and specifications which will be laid out before the company that will get the work contract to supply the rolling stocks.
The consultants of BMRC studied the basic template of the international model of the rolling stocks and customised it to suit Bangalore’s climatic conditions and the broad gauge of Namma Metro.
According to BMRC officials, tenders were floated for the rolling stocks in January and four companies have been shortlisted after prequalification — Siemens, Bombardier, Alsthom and BEML in combination with Rotten. They will submit the bids and by June, one company will be awarded the contract.
As many as 150 rolling stocks will be procured by March 2010 at a cost of Rs 1,055 crore for 50 Namma Metro trains which will zip across the 33-km network connecting the four corridors by December 2011. Each train will have 3 coaches that can ferry 1,000 passengers.
The features of the rolling stocks are — fourwide passengers automatic access doors on each side, wide and clear windows, AC coaches, earmarked space for people with disability, Wi-fi system accessibility, automatic voice announcement system, electronic information display and electronic destination display.
“The BMRCL will provide the basic template and the specifications to the company finalised for the procurement of rolling stocks. It can further make modifications which should be of the state-of-the-art design. In the first phase, we will have three coaches per train, which would later be increased to six coaches,” officials explained.
The Rs 6,400-crore Bangalore Metro weaves through the bustling commercial and residential areas of the city. The phase I consisting of two corridors of double line will cover 33 km.
The East-West corridor will be 18.10 km long, starting from Byappanahalli and terminating at Mysore Road terminal. It will pass through Old Madras Road, Indiranagar, CMH Road, Ulsoor, Trinity Circle, MG Road, Cricket Stadium, Vidhana Soudha, Central College, Majestic, City Railway Station, Magadi Road, Hosahalli, Vijayanagar and Deepanjalinagar.
The 14.90-km North-South corridor will begin at Yeshwantpur terminal and terminate at RV Road terminal going via Mahalakshmi, Rajajinagar, Kuvempu Road, Malleswaram, Swastik, Majestic, Chickpet, City Market, KR Road, Lalbagh, South End Circle and Jayanagar. Of the 33 km, 6.76 km will be underground near City Railway Station, Vidhana Soudha, Majestic and City Market and the rest elevated.
Safety aspect
Automatic train protection - protection to train with driver supervision Automatic train operation - automatic start, acceleration and deceleration Automatic train control Train management system - information for operation and maintenance Micro-processor controlled brake system Safety door closing and opening Surveillance cameras for security, voice communication between passengers and driver Emergency announcement from operational control centre
Operations
Services to start from December 2011; from 5 am till midnight Frequency: peak hour every 3 minutes, off peak every 15 minutes Journey time - 33 minutes from East corridor to West; 28 minutes from North Corridor to South Maximum speed is 80 km per hour Maximum passengers ferried by 50 trains at any given point - 50,000